Goodbye to the Campbell House - The "Loft" room was really excellent, a small foyer we mostly ignored and then stairs up. The cross bar (exceedingly well padded) was not annoying as one might guess, despite being at face height across the space.That foyer. The shuttered windows with colored glass were nice.Also, a little Italian (for some) reason restaurant that served a complemntary breakfast - much nicer than places that through a little of that "Continental" stuff at you, or a big buffet.Melissa has a very tender place in her heart for street and stray animals.More street art! Comissioned by the nearby hotel, but fun.Melissa points out it looks like Marilyn is checking her out..."Coffee, Tea, or Me"...More of the wire art.This was the outside of the Pinang Peranakan Mansion we toured the other day. We're heading here to be back at the Penang Heritage Trust where we booked a more in-depth tour.I admired the local "Myvi" style car because it looked a bit like mine - later it would happen to be the brand of our rental.We started a walking tour with an Australian couple, Mark and Anna. The guide encouraged us to have fun with the art- in general Malaysia seems to like goofing with photos.Our guide- alas I forgot to record his name, but he was a lot of fun, a bit foppish? I don't want to over-stereotype, but I dig that Indonesia offers models of malehood not all hung up on machoness.More of the local clan house-style temples.Hindu temple, I think they mentioned it was a recent addition, or at least renovation.Again, I love how almost whereever you go temple wise, there's some little detail that rewards close attention, but that otherwise you might miss.Again, more temple stuff...The clanhouses in general made me think about Mutual Aid Societies, like the ones in New Orleans. They kind of go against the grain of American Rugged Individualism... in thinking about what some Trump Voter defenders say about the relative neglect of rural communities... I dunno. Food for thought.I asked the guide a bit about the "tasty offerings" I mentioned earlier - was their a particular procedure for removal of them? He said that the temple keeper might enjoy them or give them to needy people - or sometimes people offer it ceremoniously and then take with.That... is quite a plant.One of our fellow tourees, Anna from Australia.Is that... "Chillax" over an Avatar character?Moslem cemetery. The guide pointed out males get proud tall columns, females less imposing structures, tablet-shaped I'd say.The rainforest has a lot of life and a lot of decay.Street art...WHOOO doesn't love owls?He talked about how a Sikh guard at Buckingham Palace had a special headpiece combining his cultural background's wear and what the guards all sport.These lions had granite spheres carved from and forever trapped in their mighty jaws.But, tourists are told not to muck with 'em.Interior of the Khoo Kongsi clanhouse - I think our guide had a special connection with the group.I just love the art when it goes monochrome.This calligraphy has tiny birds......see? rather Escher-esque."The Nine Old Men", see next photo...I love the braggadocio of "This painting pays tribute to the clan leaders of Khoo Kongsi, whose insight into the ways of changes in a highly competitive society have steered Khoo Kongsi to the top." This whole trip I had a special affinity for Tigers, since they are my sign...Hallway with students granted scholarships and their achievements. Again, very strongly pro-community.Something pretty - the shell is just a sample but I bought a bookmark using the material for Melissa's birthday (shh)Huh.Finally Melissa got to see some Tea-pulling! This (and the last photo) was at the Edelweiss Cafe - lots of odd little prankish things there our guide took delight in showing us - the witches that jumped up when you clapped, the boxer on the wall in the lady's room with an inviting handle on his shorts, pull it and a spider jumps out and a loud bell rings in front, etc...Kitty street art.Chicken and Rice to end the day before heading back to the airport.Uh, it's an airport. It's interesting walking out to the planes - loud sometimes though. Off to Langkawi!Cows.Beautiful Langkawi... more to come.
